The "Coach Pop" Edition

The San Antonio Spurs' longtime head coach, Greg Popovich, hangs up his whistle after a great career. Plus, the Tigers head to FSU for a Top 5 matchup on the diamond.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's time for Clipson Sports Talk with Lowton Swan Swanny.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Finally, Clemson Sports Talk has come back two drive time.
Hello everybody long and Swan back in the saddle once again.
It is the show that shakes the South, playing clympsones
Sportstal for you each and every afternoon as you make

(01:03):
your way around the great state of South Carolina and beyond,
listening to us on incredible radio stations like Fox Sports
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on the iHeartRadio application. Download it today, it's free. The
website the dot com on it doggn it that's Clympsonesportstar
dot Com. And the show The Shakespeare south Land brought
to you in part all our good friends over at

(01:26):
METS Plumbing seven three two drip Drip, Drip drip. You
know the jingle seventh three to two drip. That's METS
Plumbing mets Plumbing dot com. Go check them out today.
The Kentucky Derby coming up tomorrow, Several races at Churchill

(01:46):
Downs today during the Kentucky Oaks this afternoon five point
fifty one for that race. Lots of horse racing this weekend.
Looking forward to hanging out with some of my buddies
and watching some of the horse races. It's always a
good fun day. The weather spectacular looking out right now.

(02:10):
It looks like we might be getting a little rain
this afternoon, and I'm hoping that that rain will cool
things off just a little bit. But really beautiful, really
beautiful weather that we've got here in the middlands of
South Carolina. And I hope the weather's nice where you
are and when you are, if you're listening to the
podcast edition of the show in the NBA. The biggest

(02:35):
news Greg Popovich calling in a career. We'll talk about
that here on the program today. Plus it's now official
he is Cheflin will give her a go with the
Clemson Tiger football team as dabos when you put out
a statement on that this afternoon as well. Plus Clemson baseball,

(03:00):
the Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles facing off six
o'clock this afternoon, six o'clock tomorrow, and then the Sunday
contest between the two schools, as you might expect, scheduled
early with a two o'clock start. Again, the bookend games

(03:24):
in this series both gonna be on the ACC Network Extra.
The matchup with Florida State on Saturday at six will
be on ESPN two. So a big weekend ahead for
the Clemson Tiger baseball team as they traveled down to Tallahassee,
Florida to take on the Florida State Seminoles A zero three,

(03:45):
four to five zero zero zero eighty six. Will dive
into some of the information on that game here on
the program as well. But I want to begin with
the Greg Popovich situation. In the Greg Popovich story, because
I do think you have to give this man his

(04:07):
flowers for the incredible job that he did as a
head coach. He will remain with the team as the
franchise's team president, and obviously he had been out for
quite some time this season after some medical setbacks, but

(04:29):
he will now transition out. He had a mild stroke
in November. Mitch Johnson at the time was named the
acting head coach. He will take over the full head
coaching duties, and Greg Popovich has been involved with the
team in recent days, but the day to day operations
of coaching just something that's sort of now outside of

(04:54):
the scope given his health and quite frankly, I mean,
let's be honest, you can't ask for much more in
terms of success as a head coach in the NBA.
I mean, I know that you've got Phil Jackson and

(05:15):
what he managed to accomplish and read arbac with the
Boston Celtics in the sixties to fifties and sixties. But
for Greg Popovich, who's now seventy six years old, he
began his career with the San Antonio Spurs. Now his
career began as an assistant in the Air Force, but
with the Spurs in nineteen eighty eight. From eighty eight

(05:39):
to ninety two, he is with the Spurs, and he
left for a few seasons to go be an assistant
with the Golden State Warriors up until nineteen ninety four,
was out of the game for a year and then
bounce back and has been in San Antonio or with
the San Antonio Spurs is nineteen ninety six, since I
was a sophomore in college. I mean he's in the NBA.

(06:01):
A five time NBA champion, winning championships in ninety nine,
two thousand and three, two thousand and five, two thousand
and seven, in twenty fourteen, a three time NBA Coach
of the Year, two thousand and three, twelve and fourteen,
four time NBA All Star head coach OH five, eleven, thirteen,
and sixteen, and was and is considered one of the

(06:25):
top fifteen coaches in NBA history. And quite frankly, I
think you're probably looking more along the lines of a
top five head coach in NBA history. You know, the
other aspect of it too, the job that he did
with the United States Olympic teams as a head coach

(06:46):
in twenty twenty, winning a gold medal, as an assistant
coach in two thousand and three, winning a gold medal.
You know, Greg Popovich in a large part, I think
epitomized the team aspect of basketball, and what I think
we find in the history of successful head coaches in

(07:13):
the NBA is a great emphasis on team basketball. It's
never one player centric, it's never one man is the
guy that's carrying the load the team game. Steve Kerr
off of the branch of Greg Popovic's tree. You can

(07:35):
certainly have an elite level player, you can have announced,
you can have the greatest player on the planet, and
there's probably an argument to be made that even as
an undersized player, there's probably a legitimate argument to be
made that Steph Curry at some point along the way

(07:59):
was likely the greatest player on the planet. And a
part of that too, I think, if we're being fair,
a part of that is also the fact that Steph
Curry in the game or the game I should say,

(08:20):
sort of translated around Steph Curry's game to exemplify what
he does. But those teams, those teams were just that
incredible teams, and to be dismissive of the team aspect

(08:43):
of it all would certainly be a misstep, especially when
you look at the betterment of the entire ball club
versus the one player taking over and pounding his own
own chest. And for me, as somebody that's appreciated and

(09:08):
enjoyed watching team basketball, there are few and far between
that have done it as well as Greg Popovich. I mean,
look back to when they drafted Tim Duncan nineteen ninety
seven and building a monster without I think this is

(09:35):
the other thing, like without what you would label as
superb athleticism, Tony Parker outstanding at point guard, Monugenobli just
a nightmare to deal with, like so many things that
do not exhibit elite athleticism, but yet through the skill,

(10:00):
whether they had Tim Duncan or not, he wasn't. You know,
Tim Duncan is a great basketball player, the greatest power
for it I've ever seen play, just silky smooth. But
I don't rank him as one of the most athletic
guys I've ever seen. He's crafty, played the team game,
played smart, heady basketball, and I think a bit a

(10:23):
large part of that comes from coaching, and your coach
creating a belief system around what he wants you to
do as a team so that collectively you can win

(10:48):
a championship, so that collectively you can get, you know,
to your dreams and good on. You know, it's reminiscent.
I think of what we saw with John Wooden, and
I understand that Popovich is not the winningest coach in

(11:12):
NBA history. He doesn't have the most titles in NBA history,
but he had a way of bringing teams together, and
it was exemplified through five championships and the consistency. You know,
sometimes teams will win three titles in three years and

(11:36):
then fall off. Theirs were spread out pretty well. Ninety
nine then four years later, no three, then two years
later than two years later and then seven years later,
and to me that highlights a different level of consistency
because through I don't want to use the word generations,

(11:58):
that's not the right word, but through a multitude of
players and lineups and stars, they still went out and won.
I kind of feel like it was the less is
more mindset, and the guys would take less perhaps to

(12:21):
stay there in San Antonio, to be a part of
something special because they really believed in the coach and
they believed in his methods, and so Greg Popovich will
hang them up. After an incredible career in the NBA,

(12:41):
coach pop one of the most successful of all time.
He leads the league and wins. He's got the most
career wins of any coach with fourteen hundred and twenty
two regular season wins during a twenty nine year career
with the Spurs. To be the head coach coach at
a single position job for twenty nine years also speaks

(13:06):
to a level of consistency. The team first mentality that
I brought up, along with the discipline on the defensive
side of the ball, plus some of his gamesmanship. There
was a game against Phoenix when Shaquille O'Neal played for
the Suns. Greg Popovich had Michael Finley. I think it
was foul Shaquille O'Neal five seconds into the game. And

(13:28):
that was back when the hack a shack thing was
a big deal. I would say the biggest criticism of
Greg Popovich for most people probably was his stance on
resting players. And this was a topic that we would
talk about here on the program over the years. It

(13:48):
unfortunately happened to me and my family with the Spurs
when we went to go see Victor wimbin Yama a
year ago and he was sitting that load management that
Popovich you could almost say, coined that idea, that concept
of resting players so that they were fresher for the postseason.

(14:15):
The Spurs paid a fine back in twenty twelve. There
at one point, we're kind of the face of this
in the NBA. November twenty ninth, twenty twelve, Papovich sat
out Tim duncan, Tony Parker, Monogen Nobly and Danny Green
for a nationally televised game. Well, that didn't go well

(14:38):
with the NBA and NBA Commissioner David Stern at the time,
when he was still alive, was outraged about it and
caught it unacceptable and that substantial sanctions will be coming.
In the following day, the commissioner of the NBA find

(15:01):
the San Antonio Spurs two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for a disservice to the league and the fans. According
to Stern, Popovich had not informed the Heat, the league,
or the media in a suitable time frame that the
four players are not making the trip. And whether or
not you like the decision made by Popovich or Stern,

(15:26):
to me is insignificant. I think what is the significant
conversation to have about an incident like that is I
think you should be welcome to rest players all you
want if you do it at home, because to me,

(15:50):
that is a disservice to fans on the road when
you go and buy a ticket to see your local
team play in hopes of seeing some stars from San Antonio,
only to have those guys not play. If Popovich at

(16:10):
the time wanted to punish any fans, make them punish
their own fans, because that's a lot harder to do,
and you have to deal with the ramifications. You got
a game in Atlanta on an East Coast Swing and
you don't play your stars, you don't have to answer

(16:31):
to anybody about it, really, but you do that at home,
you've got to answer to the local media. And to me,
putting that kind of ju ju on your franchise by
upsetting the fan base is something that I think you

(16:51):
have to consider. And that's one of the reasons I
always wanted it to be heavily held against you if
you did on the road, and I could care less
if there's a consequence if you want to rest your
own players at home, because you're gonna have to live
with that in the town. That's, you know, kind of

(17:11):
my thought on it. Additionally, for Greg Popovich, he is
third tied with Pat Riley all time in the NBA
for most championships. Also, an individual named John Kundala is
also also has five championships, but far and away the

(17:35):
most games coached Greg Popovich when you include the playoffs
two thousand, two hundred and sixty three games as a
head coach in the NBA, and kudos to him for

(17:55):
a job well done and such an ambassador for the game,
great spokesperson for the game, and a unique bird. I
think that's the I think that would be the way
I would describe Greg Popovich. I always found his interactions
with the media unique. Unlike guy we talked about yesterday,

(18:17):
great coach, right, Bill Belichick, who kind of came across
as gruff. I mean, pop always came across as honest,
and he had some funny little interactions that he would
do during the game with like the reporter on the field.

(18:39):
I'll see if I can dig some of those up
during the break where he would, you know, crack wise
or just have a good time on the court interviews
during the NBA games. It made for pretty entertaining television.
You know, He's just kind of random and quirky, very

(19:02):
to the point sometimes almost too much. I mean, I
feel like there were some moments in some of those
sideline interviews where they'd be like, well, coach, what do
you guys have to do to you know, get back
in the ball game. They're down like fifteen. He say, well,
I'd say, you know, thirteen more points would do it,

(19:23):
and you couldn't resist at times just kind of laughing
at him. So I'll get some of those up for
you here. Momentarily, Again, as Greg Popovich, he's not going
to be leaving the Spurs completely. But he is hanging
up the whistle, and at this point his career hard
not to you know, support him, giving the health issues

(19:46):
and everything to just step away and take a you know,
take a breather. You've had a great career twenty nine
years in San Antoin all right, quick break, we'll come
back with some of those sideline interviews with coach Greg
rocking and rolling along with you on a Friday afternoon
Clemson of Sports Talk all Right. I mentioned before the
great Greg Popovich gonna hang it up as a head coach.

(20:07):
He'll stay with the Spurs andy managerial role. Twenty nine
years as the head coach, the winningest coach in terms
of total wins in the history of the NBA, tied
for what I say, third for the most championships with five.
But here are some of those funny sideline interviews that

(20:30):
coach Greg Popovich gave over his career with some of
those guys you know during his during the uh television
coverage of Spurs matchups, or.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
If Spurs coach Greg pop fus coach the second game
in as many nights, how do you like the energy
level of your team thus far? Energy levels great worst
shots in the history of basketball.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Coach.

Speaker 3 (20:53):
On the defensive end, you held Lebron James without a
field goal in that first quarter.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
What are you guys doing to him this point?

Speaker 3 (21:00):
Hell, I don't know. He's I think he's just getting
into the game.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
It wasn't he kind of plan on my part.

Speaker 3 (21:06):
Let me tell you that. Say hi to Johnny Lendon.

Speaker 4 (21:09):
Thanks back in Dallas with the Spurs up fifteen, Sir,
I promise if you answer with more than seven words,
there will only be one question.

Speaker 5 (21:18):
I just want you to be happy.

Speaker 2 (21:19):
Coach, I asked you a question. Yeah, talk about Kawhi Leonards.

Speaker 4 (21:25):
How has he improved so dramatically from the first time
you he stepped foot in San Antonio.

Speaker 3 (21:31):
To now Chep England and Chad for seer, Amen, it's
the truth.

Speaker 2 (21:38):
Good luck? No second, give me a second. No, I
don't want to know. Ye you what Heather go to sec.

Speaker 4 (21:43):
Heather Cox took three in our last game.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
You only get one today?

Speaker 6 (21:48):
All right?

Speaker 3 (21:49):
Oh, you gotta be very happy with to play so
forty game from your guys coming.

Speaker 5 (21:52):
Up to bench.

Speaker 3 (21:53):
I think they're playing pretty well in transition, and we're
making some shots and we're ahead. So that's a good
Do you like the pace that a game? We have
to have a good pace. If we play half court,
their defense is too good. Our only shot is to
keep the pace going. Who's the one guy who has
the third question? Isn't it should just get two?

Speaker 5 (22:12):
My bad?

Speaker 3 (22:15):
Well, coach of the regular season?

Speaker 2 (22:16):
Around the corner the preseason?

Speaker 7 (22:18):
Right?

Speaker 2 (22:18):
We got to do this in the preseason.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
Are you kidding me?

Speaker 2 (22:22):
The preseason? We gotta do this the preseason. We have
to rehearse and get ready. I need the practice. God,
what was your biggest challenge during this preseason? Oh?

Speaker 3 (22:31):
My gosh. Uh, get into the restaurant on time.

Speaker 2 (22:35):
Here we go. You can't starting five attack. But we
see Marco Bellamelli. How much impact will he have in
the rotation?

Speaker 6 (22:41):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (22:42):
You know, I have to find him playing time. He's
a good high IQ player, so I'll have to use it.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
That's the preseason. But your good season? Four questions? That's two?

Speaker 3 (22:51):
Okay, you just.

Speaker 7 (22:52):
Saying, welcome back to San Antonio where the game is
tied after three pop, You got good ball movement throughout
the third quarter.

Speaker 2 (23:00):
How happy were you with the shot selection.

Speaker 7 (23:02):
Even though they came back?

Speaker 2 (23:04):
Happy? Reasonable? Happy?

Speaker 3 (23:07):
Happy is not a word that we think about in
the day. You gotta think of something different happy. I
don't know how to judge happy enough. Middle of the contest,
nobody's happy.

Speaker 7 (23:19):
I know you want to get Tony and Timson rest
in the fourth quarter. How long do you think you
can hold him out before you bring him back?

Speaker 3 (23:26):
Well, you know, without them, we'll have a tough time obviously,
So we'll just try to judge it as best we can.

Speaker 2 (23:31):
Come up with a better word than happy.

Speaker 1 (23:33):
That's not.

Speaker 5 (23:35):
So.

Speaker 2 (23:35):
That's just some of the moments with Greg Papovich. And
one of the things I loved about is he hold
you to the two questions and I missed Craig Sager.
That was tough, Craig Sager not being a part of

(24:02):
you know, the coverage of these games anymore. I mean,
he's his suits, his personality, you know, his his questions
were spectacular. Just so much to like about Craig Sager,
no doubt, and he and Greg Popovich would have some

(24:27):
epic back and forth on the you know, on the
court in the middle of a heated battle. I love
the one. I think it was Mark Audridge or David Audridge. David,
I think who ask him about, you know, how happy
are you? Blah blah blah. He's happy. Who's happy? We're

(24:49):
in a competition here, nobody's happy. Find a better word
than happy. So, you know, I think an individual, I
think he is so unique. And the coaching acumen, the

(25:12):
strategic acumen, I also wonder. I mean, I think it's
gonna have to take a heck of a run. But
who would you imagine would be a coach that would
win five championships. I don't know that coaches in this
day and age get the amount of time that coaches

(25:36):
back then get, because I think we have sort of
a more of a short leash on coaches. And look,
he was unbelievably consistent in terms of winning until say
twenty eighteen. I mean his first year, they go seventeen

(26:00):
forty seven, but they win the Tim Duncan lottery and
two years later they are the NBA champions. But after
getting Tim Duncan, they went from seventeen to forty seven
to fifty six and twenty six they win the championship
in a strike shortened season where they only played fifty
games in ninety eight ninety nine, but then listen to

(26:25):
the win totals fifty three. Remember out of the eighty two games,
fifty three, fifty eight, fifty eight, sixty fifty seven, fifty nine,
sixty three, fifty eight, fifty six, fifty four, fifty sixty one,
fifty sixty eight, sixty two, fifty five, sixty seven, sixty one.
I mean that's consistency. That's up till twenty sixteen. That's consistency.

(26:51):
And after that sort of a drop off to forty seven,
forty eight, thirty two, thirty three, thirty four, twenty two,
twenty two, and thirty four, and they haven't been to
the playoff since twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen. But man, you
run through those what you might call the big years

(27:11):
for the Spurs, and they were one of the most
consistent teams, not just during that timeline but probably in
the history of the NBA, an unparalleled level of consistency.
We'll keep our attention on basketball, but shifted to the
Tigers when we returned. Run Along on the Show that

(27:35):
Shakes the south Land Clemson sportstal a Swhy with You
on a Friday afternoon. Well, it's official, Ian Shefflin. Ian
Shefflin will join the Clemson football team The Tigers dropped
that release earlier today, Dabosweeney announcing that Shefflin will begin

(27:58):
his Clemson football career straight off of the basketball court
as a tight end. Dabos Sweeney saying, quote, I'm excited
about Ian's addition. He's a great competitor with high level
success at the college level. He has elite football measurables
that I believe will translate well. I'm looking forward to

(28:21):
helping him transition and build a football foundation that would
give him a chance to not only help us at Clemson,
but also give him a chance to play professional football.
Shefflin spent the first four years of his five year
collegiate clot Remember I told you about that yesterday. You
get four to play five. Excuse me, strike that, reverse

(28:44):
it five to play four. As a big figure in
the Clemson basketball team, Sheflin helped the Tigers to NCAA
tournament appearance in each of his final two years, including
a run to the lead eight. He started all seventy
games during that span and concluded his career as one

(29:05):
of forty seven one thousand point scores in program history,
and finished ranked seventh in the program's history in career rebounds.
I even saw Clympson's one ten Society changed their photo
to a picture of Ian Shefflin back in the day

(29:27):
when he was playing eighth grade football over in the
state of Georgia, where he was teammates with recent Cowboy
Draft pick and former Clempson Tiger Unnam at Phil Maffa
over at Grayson High School. So Dabo Sweeney has spoken

(29:49):
about Ian Shefflin in the past when he was kind
of asked some things about you know that type of stuff.
But he is a usually on the roster right now.
They've got him wearing number eighteen, the six foot eight,

(30:10):
two hundred and forty pounds senior tight end. Unreal, I mean,
just a cool, cool moment if you are a Clemson
Tiger fan, especially if you love I and Chefflin. The
fact that the chef is going to be getting an

(30:32):
opportunity to play football for Clemson after you thought he
was venturing into the portal just nuts. Here's that Montsweeny
talking about the potential of having Cheflin a while back.

Speaker 8 (30:47):
Be a tidy d n for sure, he'd played whatever
you want to play. He'd be unbelievable left tackle. But
he wouldn't want to play that. He want to be
one of them sexy positions. He want to play, you know,
he sexy chef, right, he'd want to be he'd want
to be a he'd want to be a Uh, well,
I'll think about sexy dexy.

Speaker 6 (31:05):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (31:05):
You know he's got Campbell's soup commercials now and and
all that. Y'all seen dex.

Speaker 5 (31:10):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (31:10):
I've been giving him some grief.

Speaker 5 (31:12):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (31:13):
But yes, chef, you know, nobody gets too excited about
the left tackle. Uh, chef. Chef would probably want to
be a d N or a tied end. And I'll
definitely have a spot. And man, we got a lot
of rev share ready for him too. If he wants
to pass up you know wherever, he's going to come
on over here and uh. And but he needs to
focus on what he's doing. That I don't need a

(31:33):
text from Brad. He needs to focus on what he's doing.
We got a lot of basketball games to win this year,
and I'm excited to see him lead the charge. But yeah,
he'd be uh, he'd be pretty good.

Speaker 2 (31:44):
He'd be pretty good dams when you're there talking about
his thoughts.

Speaker 3 (31:48):
This was.

Speaker 2 (31:50):
Last fall, talking about Ian Shefflin and what he thought,
you know, the type of football now. Of course, yesterday
on the program we had legendary clips of this idea
and now Hall of Famer Tim Bray on the program
and I asked him his thoughts on Ian Sheflin's career move.

Speaker 9 (32:14):
I think he has, you know, great potential and there's
there's you know, history that supports this that guys could
play his position in basketball and the way he plays.
You just have to look at Sam Clancy who played
at the University of Pittsburgh. Interesting to know that when

(32:34):
Lenson played at Pittsburgh this year they retired his number. Well,
he played four years of basketball, they retired his basketball
number for Pittsburgh. He never played football at the University
of Pittsburgh, went on to play nine years in the
in the NFL. And Antonio Gates who played four years
of basketball at Kent State. He didn't played football at

(32:55):
Kent State and went on to have a sixteen year
NFL career and he's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Graham has gone on to be a terrific tight
end in the NFL, who was first a basketball player
at the University of Miami, So there's certainly president for it.
And when you look at the skill set of the

(33:16):
tight end position versus the skill set of the power forward,
the way Ian has a sixth sense when it came
to rebounding, I think he's going to have a sixth
sense when it comes to catching the ball in the crowd.
I mean, you just think about now, you got the
ball inside the opponent five yard line and a six

(33:36):
foot cornerback is going to be a sign to try
to stop Ian Shefflin catching a high lob pass in
the corner of the end zone. I feel pretty good
about the possibility of that being completed.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
So there you go. That's Tim Burray giving us his
thoughts on Ian Shefflin yesterday and again now. The news
official from Clemson earlier today the Tiger football team will
add Ian Shefflin this will be his final season playing
collegiate sports at this point. Who knows. I mean, now,
it's hard to say the word final when it comes

(34:09):
down to sports anymore collegiately because the NC DOUBLEA really
doesn't have a lot of a whole lot of strength
and legs to stand on. As a matter of fact,
I think it's kind of intriguing that the real thought
process now around college sports and where we are with

(34:30):
it all is that until the next challenge comes about
whatever it is. Hey, I'm getting my master's degree, but
I want to be able to play. How can you
preclude me from playing? I mean, I don't know what
the winnable arguments are for the NC double any more
in court, but either way, at this point, this is

(34:50):
supposed to be Ian Shefflin's final year of college athletics
with the Clemson Tiger football team. Now as he shifts
and is on the website on the which is wild.
All right, We'll hit a quick break, we'll come back,
We'll put a bow on our number one. Don't forget.
Will Van Dervoort from The Clemson Insider joins its final
saber ofbour number one. The show The Shakes of south

(35:12):
Land Clemson Sports Tall lawn Swan with you, Will Van
Dervoort coming up around the ben. Don't forget. If you're
up in Tigertown anytime soon, stop by Alumni Hall on
the corner of campus on College Avenue, right there in
downtown Clemson. It's Alumni Hall. Get all your Clemson apparel.
Officially licensed Clemson apparel. Don't forget if you're a Clemson student, faculty,
or military member, you get ten percent off when shopping

(35:35):
in store. Their hat walls incredible. Learn more about the
Alumni Hall where awards past program while you're there, and
remember you can shop online in Alumni Hall through our website.
We'll get some credit for that. It's Alumni Hall online
in alumni Hall dot com where Tiger fans shop. All right,
Coming up will Van Dervoart around the bind. We'll talk

(35:57):
a little bit about this Ian Cheflin situation is the
chef is officially on the Clemson football roster. Now coming
up in about an hour. It'll be a top five
matchup down Tallahassee. Is the number three ranked Clemson Tigers.
They're actually number two in the ncbw A pole. But again, hey,

(36:21):
don't count all the polls. Baseball polls are all over
the map, but I'm gonna call them the number three
rank Clemson Tigers. They will face off with the number
five ranked Seminoles tonight at six pm on the ACC Network.
Extra tomorrow at six o'clock it'll be on ESPN two.

(36:43):
Although there is some conflicting reports that say it's gonna
be on the ACC Network Saturday, so I don't know,
it'll be on one of those two and then Sunday
back on the ACC Network Extra. Our buddy Kevin Fitzgerald
used to be the play by play Men four where
the Fireflies will be on the call for that game

(37:04):
on ACC Network or ESPN two, whichever it ends up
airing on. So shout out to my buddy Kevin as
he gets ready for that series. Florida State leads it
all time. What a tight series to dating Matt In
nineteen fifty eight, eighty three, seventy seven and one, eighty three,
seventy seven and one all time at Florida State, though

(37:24):
the Seminoles lead at forty five, twenty three and one. Today,
on the bump for the Tigers the righty Aiden Kannock.
He'll face off against the left handed pitcher Jamie Arnold
for the Seminoles. Tomorrow it'll be the righty Drew Tisworth
going up against lefty Joe Valini from Florida State. On Sunday,

(37:48):
Clemson's starter to be determined. Florida State will pitch lefty
West Mendez, So all three starters for the Seminoles pitching
left handed, It'll be interesting to see how Clempson handles that.
The Tigers have a six and four road record this season.

(38:09):
Entered last weekend, they were at six and one, but
were swept by the wolf Pack. Clempson averages seven point
one runs per game, batting two seventy two right now
with a four to forty three slugging percentage, four to
ten on base percentage with fifty six steals. As for
Clemps's pitching staff, pretty solid four point sixty five ERA

(38:31):
opponents bat two thirty five against Clemson pitching, and the
Tigers have a two point sixty five strikeout to walt ratio.
Fielding at a ninety seven point six percent clip. Florida
State at home under third year head coach Link Jarrett
this season, they are twenty and four, averaging eight point

(38:52):
two runs per game. The Knoles won one of three
games at Louisville last weekend. They're batting three to eighteen
and have a four fifty eight ERA with a nine
to seventy eight fielding percentage. Clemson plays his eighth, ninth
and tenth consecutive games against top twenty five teams in

(39:12):
this matchup at Florida State, and in twenty twenty five,
Clemson is twenty six and oh in totals, win at
totals the same or less offensive strikeouts than the opponent.
So keep your eye on that against that left handed
pitching strikeouts for Clemson. In twenty twenty five, Andrew Chufo

(39:32):
has nine sacrifice bunts, tied for the eighth most in
a season in Clemson history and the most by the
Tigers dating back nearly fifteen years to twenty eleven. Clemson
currently has an RPI of eight, and the Tigers being
in the top ten in the RPI in large parts

(39:54):
because of their strength of schedule, which is currently ranked
as twenty second in the nation. That's only going to
improve with this three game series against the Seminoles. Clemson's
non conference schedule is ninety excuse me, eightieth in the nation.
The Tigers are twenty three and twenty two in regular
season non conference ballgames. So a beautiful baseball part. Let's

(40:22):
see what the weather is, because I was gonna say
it's gonna be a beautiful day. It's a beautiful day
here in South Carolina. Let's see what the weather is
right now in Tallahassee. It looks like it's gonna be
about eighty five at first pitch, maybe eighty four, pretty
clear skies. Tomorrow looks like it'll be overcast, but eighty
four degrees to high. And Sunday again looks like it'll

(40:43):
be another nice day in Tallahassee. They're expecting about eighty
two degrees. So the weather is perfect baseball weather in
Tallahassee for these two Atlantic Coast Conference baseball titans as
they face off this weekend and again they'll get things
going in a little bit over an hour coming up

(41:04):
around the bend. He's on Twitter at Steeler Will. He's
the lead writer for the Clemson Insider dot com. Will
Van Dervoord. He's been on the show maybe three or
four weeks now. I love his insight, and Will and
I go way back, way back, so many years. And

(41:26):
you know, obviously we have a rivalry from our time
in high school. He's a little bit older than me,
but you know, he grew up in Bamberg. I grew
up in Barnwell. I mean that's I talk about Alumni
Hall being a stone's throw from historic at Riggs Field.
If you grew up in that area where we did Barnwell, Bamberg, Blackville, Williston, Denmark.

(41:48):
I mean it, all those little little communities, did I say, Williston.
I don't want to leave the Wilson Elko Blue Devils
out of the conversation. But you know, if you talk
about those communities now in the lower part of the state,
they were so small. Back in the day. You knew
everybody at every school. That's the way it felt. More
than just the people at your school. You knew, you know,

(42:09):
the rivalry, the team, the players you played him in
all sports. And that's what I like about hanging out
with Will talking about the old days. All right, speaking
of Will, he's on the guest line right around the
band and keep it locked on Fox Sports.

Speaker 1 (42:25):
Each time Clipson Sports Talk with Lowton Swan.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
It is our number two. That's drivetime right here on
the show The Shakespeare Southland Clemson Sports, Solon swanning up
with you on a Friday afternoon, and of course the
show The Shakespeare Southland brought you in park by a
good friends at Mets Plumbing. Seventh three to drip, Drip,
Drip drip. You know the jingle seventh or y two

(43:27):
drip that's Mets Plumbing mets plumbing dot com. All right.
On a Friday, Will Vanderbort, the Clemson Insider, joins us, Will,
what's up, man? Welcome in? How are you?

Speaker 6 (43:40):
I'm good man?

Speaker 2 (43:40):
How you doing man? I'm great. I'll tell you what.
It's been a unique week. Obviously, I guess over the
past fourteen days or so, we had what Ian Shefflin
entered the transfer portal, and you go, well, what does
that mean for his future? Is there gonna be a
fifth year that he can play basketball somewhere? And then
it turns out because the little you know, the little

(44:02):
legal ease in the deal, you get five years to
play four and he's got an extra year to play football,
he didn't have an extra year to play basketball. And
the news drops today that it's finally official over on
Clemson's website. He's on the roster. He and Scheffler gonna
play football tight end at Clemson. Well, what have been

(44:24):
your thoughts on this? As this news is sort of
trickled out over the past week.

Speaker 6 (44:29):
Yeah, you know, I'm sure you're like me. You heard
the rumors come down and you're wondering, Okay, what's to it? Obviously,
I guess it would have been Wednesday when you know
it really kind of came to light, if you will,
and that it wasn't a rumor, and that this is
something that was gonna happen, and then you know, you know,
you start thinking about, Okay, what position he can play?

(44:51):
I think tight end is the one that made the
most sense because he played quarterback in high school. But
you know, that's when he was a young high schooler,
right like nine tenth grade, if you will. And you know,
and and you know, Dabo had seen him in camp.
He came to Clemson's camp on a seven on seven.
His team won that seven on seven after Clemson camp,
and he was the quarterback. So Dabo has seen his

(45:12):
athleticism and knew what he could do. But when you
look at his body type and all, and obviously you
don't need another quarterback, right I think Clemson set there.
You look at his body type, though, you think it's
a guy who's six foot eight, two hundred and forty
pounds can jump out of the building. Man, you put
him at tight end. And I know some people are

(45:33):
probably like, well, tight end, there's a lot to learn
in that position, isn't that asking too much. No, And
here's why, because he's not gonna be your every day
kind of tight end. He's not gonna be Dwayne Allen.
He's gonna be more Jake Greenstool, if you will. And
so they're gonna get him to come in there and
see what his route tree is, see what kind of
routes he can run, which I think he'll probably be

(45:55):
okay because he is a basketball player and that means
he's what agile and he can probably cut better than most, right,
and so he's probably gonna be okay running routes. And
then you throw him down there in the what you know,
like I said in my column the other day or
story the other day, you know, you throw them down
in there in the red zone, right, and you got

(46:15):
a six foot eight guy and a six foot five
guy and Tristan Smith and now you've got six ft
eight Ian Shefflin in the red zone. You know that
brings a little bit to it. So I think he's
gonna compete with Josh sapp out there for that sort
of when they bring the tight end and they split
him out when they played a lot of twelve personnel,
and you'll I think you're going to see him out

(46:36):
in those situations where he's gonna have a chance to
compete and play. I don't this isn't a move. Dabo's
just like, oh, this is good, pr this is a move.
Dabo really legitimately thinks Ian could help this football team
this year in some capacity. Not an all a sec
kind of thing, but like a guy who helps in
certain situations. You know, down near the goal line, you

(46:57):
can run maybe a push push with him, right, you know,
you can run short yardies with him. There's a lot
of things you can do with a guy who's six
foot eighty pounds on your offense.

Speaker 2 (47:07):
Will Van der Boort the Clemson insider joining us here
on the program, So from from there, Will, like I
think about the two sports, and certainly he's he's a
very athletic kid. But when you stand by Davis Allen
and some of these tidiends, I mean they're big dudes,
they're really big dudes. But he's I mean, at six eight,

(47:29):
I mean he is gonna be a monster. Like I
think that's the other thing that's really hard to visualize.
Taking his frame on the basketball court where he's running around,
you know, Victor Lockan who's six' ten and seven footers
in the in in the acc and then putting that
frame on the football. Field you, know people will probably

(47:51):
not realize just how big of a guy he is
until he's got his helmet and shoulder pads on and
you're gonna look down there and you're gonna, go Holy,
moley that is the biggest Guy i've ever. Seen, yeah
he's gonna be a.

Speaker 6 (48:04):
Monster and you, know if you're a six foot or
a five eleven linebacker or you, know a six' one
safety and you got to go up against this six foot,
eight guy you know you're gonna. Have to and not,
Only that let's remember he. Can jump he. Played basketball
did you see Those He in shefflin dunks during, The

(48:25):
season and so he can go up and. Get it let's.
Not forget And As brad, brownell said, you know he's a.
Sneaky athlete when you look, at him you think he's not,
that athletic but then he does stuff and, you're like
how did he just? Do that and he uses that
to his advantage because people look at him and they
said that guy can't, get off can't do that. To

(48:46):
me and guess what, he does he. Does it he's a.
Sneaky athlete that makes. Him, DANGEROUS again i don't think.
HE starts i don't think he's gonna be the starting
tight end or anything. Like THAT but i do think
he can use him in some, sub packages and he.
Definitely can you can use him down near the, goal
line and he's gonna be and Advantage for clinston in.
THOSE situations i.

Speaker 2 (49:06):
THAT and i would say one last thing about him
playing tight end is that because he's. Played basketball, you
know a lot of guys at six, foot eight they're
kind of like. A lurch they can't do a. Whole
lot they don't have. Great hands but because he's played
basketball catching a football and all the years he played you,

(49:26):
mentioned it all the years he played back in in in,
you know middle school and leading up to high school and,
ALL that, i mean he ought to be able to
catch the ball. Pretty well Will shouldn't he be pretty
agile in that sense?

Speaker 6 (49:39):
As, well absolutely as YOU and i, both know catching
a basketball is not easy, to do especially when you've
got guys hanging all over the back of you and
they're trying to take the ball, from you and you
know you're trying to. Post up and, you know he
never was a guy that had any issues with.

Speaker 5 (49:59):
The.

Speaker 6 (49:59):
Team right and here's another thing to keep in mind
that PEOPLE don't i don't, think anybody, including myself well
it hasn't even. Thought About But ian sheplin was the
best passer on, the, Team right and so his vision was,
really good like he saw things opening up before. They
Did and i'm sure that goes back to his. Quarterback. Days,
Right well i'm not saying he's gonna be throwing the

(50:21):
football or anything, like that EVEN though i wouldn't be
Surprised if dad. Both there but but BUT what i
mean by that is is he's gonna see THINGS that,
i think, you know because it's just the instinct, To
him he's gonna he's got really, good vision AND so
i think that's gonna help him. Get open that's gonna
help him see things or what the coverages. Are doing

(50:42):
now he's got. To learn he's got a lot, to,
Learn right he's got to learn. College coverages that's gonna
be a challenge and things of. That nature but they're
really only going to ask him to. Do that they're
not asking him to go sit down and try to
block a three hundred pound, defensive tackle or try to
block a, blizing linebacker or try and block a, defensive
end a two hundred and sixty pounds defensive end coming

(51:03):
off the edge at four to four speed right with.
That burst they're not asking him to. Do that they're
asking him probably to go out and catch passes and
do things of. That nature and then occasionally maybe you
see a throwback pass and he kind of does that
play you Know the steelers did back in the Day
of cincinnati where they threw It To randall Ell And
randall ll throws it Back to Ben and ben throws
it down. The field you know That kind there's a

(51:25):
lot of things you can do with the guy who
played quarterback before that knows how to handle.

Speaker 3 (51:28):
The.

Speaker 2 (51:28):
Football right he's the senior Writer For clemson insider and
he Is on Twitter at Steeler Will Will van derboort
with us here on. The program, so well before we
talk About the Quarterback, K, CLUB nick i do want
to ask you THIS because i know you're passionate about
the traditions and the History. At Clemson now i'll, Go

(51:49):
out i'll step out in front of this AND say
i had no problem With The savannah bananas running down
the hill being Led By. Dabo SWEENEY but i know
you're a little bit more Of a clemson purest. Than
most what was your take On The savannah Bananas using clemson's,
you know riveting entrance for their matchup There In depth

(52:11):
valley this. Past, Weekend yeah.

Speaker 6 (52:13):
I'm sure you read my column as, others did, YOU
know i. Just wasn't first, of all let me start
off by Saying The savannah bananas were that was Awesome.
For clemson it was a great Showcase For. Clemson university,
you know It was it was all the things that you.
Would want they made a lot of money off of it.
And revenue everything you needed off of it from the

(52:36):
from the, you know, the positivity, the influence the way
it helped the economic downtown and the Community.

Speaker 9 (52:42):
Of clemson.

Speaker 6 (52:43):
All POSITIVES and i had no issue with it and enjoyed.
It myself, you know it was a great time. For
everybody and so nothing Against The savannah banana's Playing and clemson.
ALL that i just didn't like him running down the
hill in front of eighty one. Thousand people and YOU
hear i just said that in front of eighty one.
Thousand PEOPLE so i don't want the people SAYING as.
I had some, can say Well The, ladies clinic they

(53:04):
do it all. The time that doesn't. Count people they're
running into an. Empty stadium it's not the same as eighty.
One thousand the Tradition is clemson doing the Buses As savannah,
bananas did going on top of the hill and running
down the hill in front of eighty one. Thousand people
that is. The tradition, AND also i know a lot of, people,
say well they didn't touch, the rock and, that's true.

(53:26):
They did but, guess what the rock is part of
the tradition of running down. The hill it is not.
The tradition they started running down the hill in nineteen.
Forty two the rock didn't come into play till nineteen, sixty,
seven okay when they first started touching it and running down.
The hill and then, you know just some, other things
just some. People understand, you know The way clemson runs

(53:48):
down the hill currently right now started in nineteen seventy
Three AGAINST texas A, and m where they load, the
buses go all the way around the stadium and come down.
Like that Before With, coach howard they would they would
do a, pregame right and wasn't as much fanfare back
then as they would come down from a fight and
go Through the east gate there and come down. The
hill and it just started, catching on, you know after

(54:11):
they started, doing that and it started getting a little
bit of, fan fare but not like we know it to.

Speaker 9 (54:15):
Be today so, YOU know.

Speaker 6 (54:18):
I only had a problem with it because, to me
That was. CLINTON'S tradition i was told by Some old
clemton GUARD that i talked to that, you know they
didn't let the panthers. Do it they didn't let the,
you know they didn't let high schools do IT that
i asked to. Do it that Came Into, death valley,
You know so they and the reason why they were

(54:38):
given was because it's, clinton traditions, not yours IS what i.
Was told now, you know now we say, All, that
lolton and, guess, what buddy, it's been, it's done. It
happened i'm.

Speaker 2 (54:50):
MOVING on, i okay.

Speaker 6 (54:51):
Say to my piece as, my OPINION and, i said you,
KNOW what i didn't, like it but it's over. With
now NOTHING really i could do about. IT anyway i
just didn't. Like it nothing against just a banana and
bananas by.

Speaker 2 (55:01):
The, way yeah.

Speaker 6 (55:02):
It was MORE so i was Disappointed that clemson gave permission, and,
said yeah you can. Do it.

Speaker 2 (55:07):
You're disappointing yeah you're. A purist you're you're a Purist.
About clemson yeah. You are and. THAT'S, okay I like,
I said i didn't have a problem, with It and
i'll Give you i'll give you a. Similar example remember
when they filmed The movie safety and they ran Down.
The hill, to me that was. A show that was,

(55:28):
a movie but there were eighty thousand people there to
kind of counter that eighty thousand side, of it and
that's really what the beginning Of the bananas is. To
me it's. A show it was, a, show.

Speaker 6 (55:38):
Right it was. A show But the climpson that that
has people come to me About the safety, Movie too
but they were dressed Up. Like clemson they Were representing
clemson in, that moment so kind of steal the same.

Speaker 2 (55:49):
Now in, a way if we do want to have
an argument, about, something though how in the world were
that many people allowed to be on the hill During the?
Bananas game help me, with That?

Speaker 6 (55:59):
Will Okay so i've had a lot of people ask you,
about THAT and i haven't gotten official Word, From clemson
but just from my observation from all THE pictures, i
SAW because i didn't pay really pay attention to IT
until i saw It, On TWITTER so i, can't say
like during, THE game i paid attention to what was going,
On there but it looked like they kept the carpet

(56:20):
down the. Whole game and if that's, the case then
that means there's a big section where people weren't allowed.

Speaker 5 (56:26):
To.

Speaker 6 (56:26):
Stand right it's like a twelve foot area where from
one side to the other side of the carpet where
people can't stand on the carpet because they don't allow
regular fans to stand on. The, Carpet right usually they
roll the carpet up and then they let the people.

Speaker 9 (56:40):
Fill.

Speaker 6 (56:41):
In, right well they didn't, do that at least from
all the pictures AND videos. I. SAW now i. Don't
know maybe, THEY did i. Don't know it didn't look
like they, did it and so maybe that's why it looked.
MORE pramped i, don't know, you KNOW but i as
heard a lot of people complain. About IT like, i
said no crucial Word from clemson just yet. On situation was?
It that but you, KNOW it i think the complaint.

(57:05):
Is valid BUT also i wonder how, many people if,
you look if they did keep the carpet down the,
whole game how many people were did that cause not
to actually, you know would that make it look like
it's full or it's my point and.

Speaker 2 (57:20):
You, know what if it and if, IT does i
can't remember if they had it down the whole game.
OR not i feel like. They didn't but if, they
did just do it like that during football season at
least make it. Look, good, yeah right it.

Speaker 6 (57:31):
Looks good, and yeah it looks good on the college
football playoff of the college. Football, game right they got
it down the. Whole car they got it sitting down
the whole time. Like that it looks good to me
on the on.

Speaker 2 (57:39):
The game, oh yeah on the. Video, game yeah exactly
on the.

Speaker 6 (57:42):
Video game so? Is that so do it on the
do it on the during the, game too because it
makes it, looks better. You know, to me it just
looks better if they keep it down in the carpet
down and they keep it divided and keep the people off.
THE carpet i just think it. Looked better the heill,
looked great the stadium. Looked good but, you know it's
funny the official tenants was eighty one thousand the, other,

(58:03):
day right and it looked stadium looked like it was
like eighty, six thousand but they said it was eighty,
one thousand which is five hundred short of what capacity
Is At.

Speaker 2 (58:14):
Death Valley HUH.

Speaker 6 (58:15):
So i thought that was.

Speaker 2 (58:16):
Pretty, INTERESTING well i, KNOW this a lot of, people
went and it was a heck of, a show seeing
the Seeing the. Savannah bananas they're taking on the party
animals this. Past weekend and, You know i'm sure those
guys that got drafted are probably doing some partying right Now.
From CLEMSON but i want to turn our attention to
next Season because i've seen some mock drafts that Have

(58:36):
The cleveland browns. Moving. Up now They Took, dylan gabriel
they Took Shed, or sanders whether it was reluctantly. Or
not They've Got. DESHAUN watson i know he's out and
may have already quarterback his last game For, The browns
but there WAS an espn projection Of k Clubnick the
browns moving up and Selecting k clubnick with the top
pick IN the nfl draft. Next season i've seen others

(59:00):
him as the number. Two selection will do You Think
kay klubnick is gonna have that type of Season in
clemson where he might be one of the top two
picks IN the. Nfl, DRAFT.

Speaker 6 (59:12):
Well i think.

Speaker 5 (59:13):
He.

Speaker 6 (59:13):
Can now you know they got a, hard schedule you
know they're gonna play some very. Good defenses and then
there's also this when you've been projected to Be a
heisman front runner and you've been projected to be one
of the TOP picks. Nfl, draft well correct Me if,
I'm wrong but that means there's Really nothing kay can

(59:35):
do to help. His stop he's only gonna hurt it at.

Speaker 2 (59:38):
This, point right, good point.

Speaker 6 (59:39):
Because he's gonna because people are gonna really look at
him and everything he does, do right they're gonna, criticize
him just like if You Remember trevor lawrence's last couple,
of years how he was criticized for every little tiny
thing he didn't, do right even though his numbers. Were,
great right and so that's kind of what you kind
of hate about. That Stuff, but hey If You're kay

(01:00:01):
klebnick or any of the other top quarterbacks you lift to,
this moment you want to be putting these pressure situations
where you've got to go out, and perform, and man
it starts off right off the bat AGAINST, the lsu
againing against one of the guys he's gonna be up
against all year in, those conversations and Not nuss meyer OUT.
Of lsu so it's gonna be that's gonna be a very,

(01:00:22):
fascinating game. You know, To me, to me it's the
best game of. THE day. I think, i know You've
Got ohio State and texas playing up In, the horseshoe
and that's that's cool as. A rematch but being that
highest state lost so, many, guys right it doesn't it's
not really. The same when you Look at CLEMSON, the lsu,
you know that seems to be, you know both guys

(01:00:43):
that bringing back that both quarterbacks. They got LSU's got
all these. Skilled players clinton's got all these.

Speaker 9 (01:00:47):
Skill players, You.

Speaker 6 (01:00:48):
Know clenson brings back all all the players. They do,
to me it just seems like that's the, better GAME
though i know the national pundits will Go Toward ohio
State and. Texas more but it's gonna, be, fun, nonetheless
man and right off, the bat it's a high stakes
Game for cake club make the show if he, Is
legit and so we're gonna go right off the bat
if he is a first round draft pick kind of

(01:01:10):
guy In A heisman.

Speaker 2 (01:01:11):
Trophy frontrunner well Will, look man have a. GREAT weekend
i hate we didn't have time to talk about the
Clips of tiger baseball team and their matchup coming up
With The Florida. State seminals they'll get underway in about.
Forty minutes, But, nonetheless man always, Appreciate You, bud lowton
thanks for.

Speaker 6 (01:01:27):
Having, ME man i always have a.

Speaker 2 (01:01:28):
Good.

Speaker 9 (01:01:28):
Time buddy there you.

Speaker 2 (01:01:29):
Have It That's will Van der voort joining us here
On a friday afternoon again. The Clips the tigers will
travel Down To. Florida state, that GAME as, i mentioned
game one getting underway around six o'clock. This evening that's
all ON The Acc, network extra and then tomorrow at
six o'clock it'll BE on. Espn two it's a top

(01:01:51):
five Matchup between Clemson And. Florida state and, of COURSE
as i noted earlier, this, week yeah If the tigers
could find a three, game sweep which will absolutely, be
difficult there's no doubt. About that but if you could pull,
it off, you know when, tonight's winning. Tonight's huge if
you could pull. That off there's a chance with, you

(01:02:12):
know if some things move the, right way you could
be at the top Of The atlantic. Coast. Conference uh,
if not if you, get swept it could be a
whole different bottle. Of wax back, At It lawton Swan,
on twitter TikTok. And instagram we are where, You Are Clemson.
Sports talk we'd love to have you join us Again

(01:02:35):
The kentucky. Derby tomorrow, YOU KNOW i i say this
with the. Utmost sincerity sports like. Horse racing when you
get a transcendent horse in, the mix when you get

(01:02:56):
a horse that you kind of see a future Of
Potential triple, crown winner it makes for. Fantastic television but
you can't get to The triple crown until you Win

(01:03:18):
The kentucky derby and that gets. Underway. Tomorrow now i've
Been To, Churchill downs i've seen. Races there i've never
been To The. KENTUCKY derby i Would say i'd have
to put it on my bucket list. Of items but
one of the THINGS that i vividly remember because you

(01:03:40):
had that chase for A triple crown winner for so.
Many years because in my life in, thoroughbred racing you
had affirmed in nineteen, seventy EIGHT and i had never

(01:04:03):
seen a horse Win The triple crown until after both
of my kids, were born, you know twenty Fifteen When
american pharaoh, did it and then three Years later justify

(01:04:24):
managed to pull off. The feet SO when i think about,
that gap in that gap in time from nineteen seventy
eight with a firm to, TWENTY fifteen i can remember
the horses along the way that were close because, everybody

(01:04:47):
wondered would you get another, You Know seattle slew Or,
a secretariat, you know a horse that would Win The.
Triple crown and there had been an incredible gap in
horse racing from n sineteen forty Eight until secretariat, came
On and secretariat was like it Was like secretariat had
an engine that the other horses just couldn't keep. Up

(01:05:11):
with and turns Out that secretariat did have an, enlarged heart,
bigger motor and was a phenomenal. Race horse And The
kentucky oaks takes, place Today But tomorrow's Derby In derby
day is what everyone in the country will be. Focusing

(01:05:35):
on you can't. MISS it i REMEMBER when i was.
A kid for, WHATEVER reason I think i Had The
kentucky derby In the indianapolis five hundred. Mixed up AND
when i, Say kid i'm talking PROBABLY when i was six,
or SEVEN and I think i remember When the derby

(01:05:58):
came ON that i thought it was like a four four,
hour thing like it was gonna take. All DAY then
i remember watching it and boom it, was OVER and i, was,
like oh. That's great as the road warriors, might say
ooh what. A rush just a lot. Of fun and,
you know there's certainly the ugly side of, horse racing

(01:06:20):
the the side that very few people want to discuss
because of the nature of having to put a horse
down if, they're injured and how it's. Just traumatic and
most of the time they do not try to save,

(01:06:40):
the horses, you know if the horse is A triple,
crown winner or if the horse is one some incredible,
you Know the derby or whatever that what was? The
horse what was the horse where they did all the

(01:07:02):
surgeries and just kept trying to. FIX him i think
it Was a. DERBY winner i don't remember when he got,
injured though but they were trying to keep him alive
as long as possible because the stud fees are So Immense.

(01:07:29):
Barbara barbara now that's that's a story because what you
what you don't realize his horses are running. On ankles
about the size. Of hours barbara was, a tragic. Tragic

(01:07:49):
situation What did barbara Win? The derby did he win
two out? Of three just? The derby was undefeated in
his first. Five starts barbara Won the derby by six
and a. Half links the margin of victory was the

(01:08:11):
largest since nineteen. Forty six barbara's preating mistakes began with a.
False start, that's right he busted through, the gate you,
remember that slammed through. The gates they put him Back.
In barbaro barbara broke cleanly and then suffered a catastrophic
injury as he Passed The. Grand strand but because he

(01:08:35):
Was a, derby winner they did everything. They could barbara's
injuries were. Life threatening horses can't survive without, three legs
so the broken leg had to. Be repaired he had
all kind of screws and stuff put. In there it,
was ROUGH and I think barbara died four years or

(01:08:58):
so after, that fact in two thousand. And seven, but
man that was a heck of a. Race horse but
that's the side of. Horse racing that's so difficult for
so many people, to watch and and you know a
lot of people don't like horse racing because of. THAT
fact i. ENJOY it i think IT'S a i think

(01:09:21):
it's a fun and incredibly engaging sport. To watch the
horses are, just MAJESTIC and i. LOVE it i love.
Watching it, So anyway i'll be locked in tomorrow on.
THE derby i don't KNOW who i think is, gonna
Win but i'll be. Locked in i'll know by. Post
time all right to the paddock plays quick break will

(01:09:49):
turn our attention to playoff basketball and some updates from
playoff hockey for you here On. A, Friday well i'll. Be,
honest now A Our Los angeles lakers, are out by,
The Way Clemson SPORTS talk lowd and swan. With you
now That Our Los angeles lakers are out OF the
nba playoffs. Really cares let's keep the horse racing. Conversations, going,

(01:10:13):
NO look i. AM willing i am willing to recognize
everything else going on IN the. Nba tonight just, one game,
nine o'clock an Elimination game Houston In. Golden state houston
survived on the brink of elimination in their last game three.

(01:10:35):
To two that. Series stands We're In, golden, state though
Where the warriors can close. It out we'll see how
that all shakes out this even at nine O'CLOCK on espn, last,
night though IN the nba had a couple. Of Games
The New york knicks advanced Past The detroit pistons four

(01:10:58):
games to two with a one to sixteen one, thirteen
victory and the series is now tied Between the nuggets And,
the clippers As the Clippers took game six one, to
eleven one oh five. Last night here's HOW the nba
playoff bracket currently Looks. Out west the Top, seeded thunder

(01:11:21):
who swept their series Against The, grillies grizzlies still await
the Winner of game seven that'll take place tomorrow at
seven THIRTY on tnt Between the nuggets And. The Clippers The,
minnesota timberwolves the sixth sy Who Top, los angeles await
the winner of tonight's game Between the rockets And, the
warriors assuming It's. The warriors, if not there will Be

(01:11:45):
a game seven between. Those teams So the timberwolves In
the thunder getting a little bit of. A respite In,
the east we've got the conference semi finals. Squared Away
the cavs Swept the heat four games, to none And
The indiana pacers Beat the bucks four games. To one

(01:12:06):
so you've got the Top. Seeded cavaliers easy for me
to say the, top Seed the cavaliers And the pacers
will face off on. One side now we don't have
game times for that because they're waiting for the games
out west to. Wrap up and then you've got the
Two Seeded, boston celtics who Beat the magic four games,

(01:12:27):
to one facing off With the knicks who Beat. The
Pistons the knicks of the, three seed they Beat the
pistons four games. To two so it's a little chalkish
In the east and, out west where we talked about
the muddled mess, of teams you got a legitimate chance that,

(01:12:48):
the six the five, to six and seven seed could,
all advance paving, the way in, my opinion For the
thunder to make a legitimate run AT The nba finals
and maybe their FIRST ever nba Championship In. Oklahoma city
as FOR the, nhl playoffs, you know if It's Our

(01:13:09):
Los angeles LAKERS AND i i do like to lump
you in, with that even though you might not.

Speaker 5 (01:13:16):
Like It.

Speaker 2 (01:13:18):
Our carolina hurricanes have advanced. Around too they will face
Off with washington and the winner of that series will
face off with the Winner of Toronto and florida In.
The east BUT unfortunately i can't give you start dates
on that because of the same thing we've got going
on over in the west OF. The nhl We know

(01:13:41):
Vegas and edmonton will play at. Some point vegas was
the top seed or, the division the number one in
their division And the king, excuse Me and edmonton was
the third seed in. Their division but we're still awaiting

(01:14:04):
the Winners of Winnipeg And saint Louis and Dallas. And
Colorado now Dallas and colorado are down to a, game
seven so it'll be for all the Marbles for Dallas,
and colorado and then Tonight potentially winnipeg could close out

(01:14:26):
their series With The Saint. Louis blues the series three,
to two eight O'CLOCK. On tnt, SO look, i mean
if you don't watch, playoff hockey give it. A whirl
if you don't want to take my advice, on, it
now be willing to wait just a. Little bit give

(01:14:50):
yourself a little weight time and Watch The carolina panthers
when they're back. In action once we have the, you
know the series, plural form, move Forward because i'm just,
telling you the fans electric when teams score in. The

(01:15:12):
playoffs it's completely different energy than it is during the.
Regular season, YOU know i talked earlier about the lessest,
more THING and i know you've got to. GENERATE revenue
i know you need to have butts in, the SEATS
but i am convinced after all of my years of

(01:15:35):
watching sports and talking sports that for, some Sports Major, league,
baseball HOCKEY, the nba less is. Actually more less games
is better for. The sport for, the fans less games,

(01:15:58):
is BETTER and I don't i don't take, that lightly
knowing that you'd be eliminating. Some GAMES but i have.
SEEN enough i have seen enough sports to know that
the engagement and the excitement that you get surrounding the
playoffs tends to exist and begins to exist closer to

(01:16:23):
the end of the regular season for teams that are still.
In competition and there are certainly, some outliers some fan
bases that are just always going to be. Invested heavily
but when you, you know when you minimize the opportunities
that people have to come, SEE you i think you,

(01:16:46):
maximize interest and, QUITE frankly i THINK the nba And
Certainly Major league. BASEBALL schedule i know a lot of
you don't like IT when i talk About Shortening Major league,
Baseball games but would it hurt to shorten the season a?

(01:17:08):
Little bit would that be the worst? Thing ever i'll,
Be honest i'd be in favor of shortening the season
and expanding the Playoff In Major. LEAGUE baseball i want
more games that, mean something and what baseball has right
now is most games mean nothing in the grand scheme.

(01:17:29):
Of things, all right, quick break we'll put a bow
on the week when we return right. Here, on fuck.

Speaker 5 (01:17:38):
What have you done for? Me lately it's a.

Speaker 1 (01:17:42):
Fair question just don't lose sight of the.

Speaker 5 (01:17:44):
Bigger picture.

Speaker 6 (01:17:46):
Don't.

Speaker 3 (01:17:47):
Forget history lucky for Us, at clemson the answer to
the questions what have you done for?

Speaker 5 (01:17:55):
Me lately and what have?

Speaker 3 (01:17:56):
You done always are.

Speaker 2 (01:17:58):
The same.

Speaker 5 (01:18:04):
We win. Sometime sometimes.

Speaker 2 (01:18:51):
Final segment On a, friday afternoon the Show that Shakes
The south lane again Clips at baseball getting ready to
get underway at six o'clock with this matchup Against The
Florida STATE Seminoles acc network. Extra tomorrow i'm gonna double
check because again the Release that clemson put OUT Said,

(01:19:16):
acc network but, the schedule if you go To the clemson,
baseball schedule IT says espn Two For Clemson. Florida STATE
so i did. DOUBLE check i don't know for sure where.
It'll be it'll be on one six o'clock Both Nights,

(01:19:37):
friday saturday Two. O'clock Sunday, Huge Series. Huge, series additionally
the news Out of clemson, As Well ian shefflin now
On the clemson football team already on. The roster if
you Go to, clemson's website big chef. Six' eight If it,

(01:19:58):
WERE april fools i think people would think this is just.
A big joke it's the real McCoy, as They Say
and ian shefflin number number Eighteen On the clepson. Tiger

(01:20:20):
football roster it's a wild, thing to see but. There
it is you can't say in, black and white. It's
in color that's crazy man six ft eight two, and

(01:20:43):
forty pounds like when. You see it when you see
it and He's wearing his clemson basketball uniform and the
photos like you know it's funny because So If, if ian,
shefflin all right let's let's say, let's Say This if

(01:21:04):
ian shefflin were going to Play, basketball At maryland a
maryland Website would photoshop Cheflin in. A, Maryland uniform right
you've seen this, a thousand times the jersey swaps. That people.
DO we, COULDN'T i, MEAN i guess i guess they.

(01:21:24):
DIDN'T want to i guess they wanted to amplify this
message That he's a clemson football player that was. A
BASKETBALL player but, i, think about like why didn't he
just put a photoshop a? SUIT on, him i, mean
my man it looks like it looks like you're like

(01:21:49):
if one of your pall bears was running late. For
the funeral he's just coming from. A basketball game everybody else,
has on suits and Then he and shefflin six. Eight
to forty i'm anxious, To See It like WILL vanderwart
and i were, Talking about earlier and. Here's the thing
his six foot eight and his athletics is on, the

(01:22:10):
football field he is, going to feel, in my opinion
like a much smaller individual in the sense of how
he'll maneuver because you're playing in a, much bigger space,

(01:22:30):
much bigger space and he's accustomed to maneuvering around. A
small space and he's, he's he's good. He Moves Well
so i'm i'm anxious. To see it give. Him a
shot we'll see. HOW it goes i don't think he'll,
be A mainstay but i think he'll have the chance.

(01:22:55):
To surprise people and and look, the Track record the jimmy,
of the, world You, know The Tony the tony gonzales.
Of the world all those guys that made this transition
and made it work make you believe there's a real chance.
At CAM work and i mean he's. Just so big

(01:23:16):
let's see How Big was tony gonzales six Foot Five
and jimmy graham who Played. Basketball From Miami see jimmy graham.
SIX foot seven i mean that makes, you feel well
there's no sure. Things in sports but you. Know he's

(01:23:37):
athletic you know he's. A big guy you know he's
got a. Vertical big hands should be able to. Catch
the ball that's not gonna. BE a problem i? What's
the downside physicality not being hit the way he's. GONNA be,
hit i mean if you didn't want to play high
school football because you want to. Concentrate on basketball it
doesn't necessarily mean that you are afraid, of being hit

(01:23:59):
but you're gonna get lit up. In college. Football they
don't the linebacker doesn't care if you're. Six foot eight
they're gonna hit you as hard as they. Can. Hit
you what the OTHER thing that i think will be
interesting is to see what his playing weight. Ends Up
being jimmy graham was two Sixty five against. Shefflin two
forty gonzalez was about. Two FORTY five but i think

(01:24:24):
at six foot eight he needs to push about to
sixty five and he needs to put. On some pounds
it's gonna be. Fun to watch it's Another. Weapon for
clemson it's not like they Got Worse at nia shefflin
as an option, on the offense they. Didn't, get worse,
right all right we gotta get. Out of here thank
you again for. A great week we'll talk To. You on,

(01:24:46):
monday until Then it's always i'll, Take, care now hey